There’s always a will-they, won’t-they dynamic before a Challenge Cup Final, but the Hull KR at Wembley is pretty self-explanatory, excusing one obvious position.
All eyes will be on Micky McIlorum and his potential involvement. The hooker is in the squad and being given every possible opportunity to play in the match. You would have to think, at this point, that he will.
If he does, you’d expect him to start, play the opening quarter then allow Jez Litten to do his thing. If not, Litten will likely play a similar number of minutes, just from the start, with Bill Leyland coming on at the back end of the game. Ultimately, the only real question mark is whether it’s McIlorum or Leyland.
The rest is self-explanatory and identical to the side that won the semi-final against Catalans Dragons. With Arthur Mourgue unavailable, Jack Broadbent goes to fullback and James Batchelor is pushed to centre. That means Jai Whitbread is moved to back-row, a position he has had some practice in recently.
After that, it’s a consistent side based on what has delivered so much success so far this season. Davies and Burgess on the wings, Lewis and May in the halves, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, back from suspension, up front with Sauaso Sue.
Essentially, all eyes are on the hookers.
Predicted Hull KR side : Jack Broadbent, Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, James Batchelor, Joe Burgess, Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Micky McIlorum, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dean Hadley, Jai Whitbread, Elliot Minchella. Subs: Jez Litten, Sam Luckley, Kelepi Tanginoa, Jack Brown.